Check-rower.



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2 Sheets-Sheet I.

(No Model.)

No. 687,192. vPatentfad Nov. 26, IQOI.

J; w. BETTENnonF.

CHECK ROWER.

(Application ined July 2a, 1960.)

(No Modell) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

UNITED STATES lPATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH WV. BETTENDORF, OF DAVENPORT, IOWA.l

CHECK-ROWER.l

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 687,192, dated November 26, 1901.

Application filed July 28, 1900. Serial No. 25 ,133. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that LJOSEPHWBETTENDORE,

port, Iowa,) have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Check-Bowers, of

which the following is a full, clear, and exact specification, reference being had to the drawings and to the reference letters and figures marked thereon.

My invention relates to that class of checkrowers in which the shaft of the spider marker-wheels possesses such independence of draft that it is not affected by the accidental deviations of the horses from the desired line of travel. Here-tofore it has always been considered necessary to trail the markerwheels to the rear of the supporting-vehicle and back of the driverA and to connect the same directly to some part of the machine. While capable of a limited independent lateral movement that permits it to travel in a much straighter line than if rigidly secured to the supporting-vehicle or hopper-frame, yet it will undoubtedly be affected thereby and be deliected from a straight path when the lateral deviation 0f said vehicle and frame exceed a certain limited movement.

The object of my invention is to make the draft of the marker-shaftindependent of the hopper-frame and supporting-vehicle entirely and to depend upon the purchaseofthe bladesl or shovels in the` soil to keep the saine free from the accidental side movements'of the draft-animals.

A further object is to place these markerwheels at such a point infront of the driver that he can observe their work and manipulate them to avoid obstacles, and so that should he fall from his seat-a not unusual circumstancehe will not become mixed up in the mechanism of the machine. This I accomplish by the lneans hereinafter fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure lis a side elevation of a check-rower embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same. Fig. 3 isa side view of the universal toggle-frame connecting the marker-shaft and hopper mechanism detached from the remainder of the machine. Fig. 4f is a frontedge View of the same. Fig. 5 is a plan view thereof.

Referring to the drawings,'A represents a U-shaped supporting or wheel frame, which at a suitable point, preferably nearer its rear e'nd, has the axle et of the supporting-wheels B B journaled therein or attached thereto in any suitable manner and has the forward ends of its parallel branches suitably bent down toward and jointed or otherwise connected to the forward cross-bar of the hopper or runner frame C. This hopper-frame O is constructed in the usual manner, and myimprovements do not necessitate a change in theconstruction of the same, except in so far as concerns the means for operating the rock-shaft b, whose ends are journaled in the framework constituting the bottom of the hopper c c and actuate the seed discharging and delivering mechanism of the same.

Pivotally secured to the rear transverse portion of frame A, preferably about midway the length of the same, is a transverse beam 2, which is connected by a suitable stay-rod 3 to the projecting end of the forward crossbar of the hopper-frame O on the same side of the Vmachine and has journaled on its outer end aV disk or other shaped guidemarker 4. The length of beam 2 is such that its outer end terminates at a point beyond the line of travel of the marker-wheels a distancecorresponding to one-half the distance between the marker-wheels, so that the guidemarker 4,' carried thereby, may follow the path made by either spade marker-wheel during the last trip of the machine,so that being back of the driver said guide-marker can be shifted from one side of the machine to the other, and thereby assist the operator in maintaining the distance between the furroWs of the planting devices, or may mark a fresh guide-line in soil next to be traveled over. n

The drivers seat d is supported by suitable legs secured to and arising from the 'parallel branches of frame A and from a crossbar A-, about as shown, and secured to and arising from said branches at corresponding points in front of axle a are standard s c,

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which have suitable bearings therein for a rock-shaft F. Rock-shaft F is operated by the driver by means of a lever E secured thereto near one end, and is maintained in any position desired by a segmental rack made integral with the nearest standard,

` which is engaged by a spring-controlled bolt E of a common type, suitably mounted on lever E and shot in or out of the notches by the act of the operator in grasping the L- shaped grip operatively connected to said bolt and pivoted to the upper portion of said lever. Projecting forward from rock-shaft F, near the ends thereof, are corresponding arms ff, the forward ends of which are connected by links g to the rear part of the hopper-frame C in any suitable manner. Should it be desired to lift the hopper-frame, the operator moves lever E backward, and through the medium of said arms fand link g raises the rear portion of the hopper-frame. In doing this he naturally throws his weight backward upon the rear of the frame A, and thus causes the forward ends of the parallel branches of said frame to elevate, and thereby lifts the forward portion of the hopperframe and the spider-markers. Rigidly secured to the hopper-frame, preferably midway between the hoppers, is the rear end of the draft tongue or pole G ofthe machine.

Placed transversely in front of the supporting-wheels B B, above the forward portion of frame A, is the transverse marker-shaft H, on the ends of which are secured the spider marker-wheels I. The blades on the ends of the arms or spokes of these wheels may all be of the same width or alternately wide and narrow. Near the center of length of this marker-shaft is a suitable yoke Zt, in the bearings inthe rear end of which said shaft is journaled. This Vyoke has pivotally connected to thecenter of its forward bend a whiletree t', to the ends of which the rear extremities of the draft-rods J J are pivoted. The forward ends of said draft-rods J may be articulated in any suitable manner to the forward end of the tongue Gr; but I prefer to provide the forward ends of the same with suitable clevises jj and connect them directly to the collars of the harness of the draft-animals. Thus it will be observed that the marker-shaft is drawn or propelled independent of the hopper-frame or supporting-vehicle and is free to tilt toward either end, according to the irregularities of the surface over which the marker-wheels travel, entirely independent of said hopper-frame or vehicle. The principal members of this toggle-frame arrangement are a horizontal member fm and a vertically-disposed member Zt. The lower end of the vertical member Zt is loosely journaled on the hopper-actuating rock-shaft b, and its upper end extends beyond the point where it connects with the forward end of the horizontal member m. The horizontal member is connected both to the markershaft and member 7c by a universal joint, so as to permit of a limited lateral movement of the said marker-shaft without affecting the efficiency of the mechanism for imparting the movement of the marker-shaft to said hopper-actuating shaft. This I accomplish by pivotally connecting to member Zr, a block Z, the axis of which is on a horizontal plane, and by pivoting to this block Z the forward bifurcated end of the horizontal member m by means of a vertical pintle m or otherwise. The portion of member Zt to which block Z is pivoted is preferably bent to one side, so as not to interfere with the actuating mechanism. The rear end of member m is also bifurcated, and these bifurcations are pivoted by pintle-bolts to a block V, or lugs projecting therefrom, which is loosely journaled on the marker shaft about the center of length thereof between said bifurcations, as shown. Secured to and revolving with the markershaft next the rear end of the member m of the toggle-frame next block Vis a cam L, the three teeth of which engage a pawl n, pivotedon the contiguous end of an L-shaped leverM, which latter is fulcrumed near the center of length of me mberm of the toggle-frame. One branch of the leverM projects in an upward direction, and its end is connected, by means of a link N, to the lower end of the vertical branch of a bell-crank O, and the angle of bell-crank O is pivoted to the upper extended end of member Zt. The forward end of the horizontally-disposed member of this bell-crank is connected to the forward end of an arm P, projecting from the hopper-actuating rock-shaft,by means of a connecting-rod p, and thus the rotary motion of the markershaft is converted into an oscillatory movement, which is imparted to the hopper-actuating rocking shaft. This manner of imparting and concerting the motion of the markershaft to the hopper-actuating rock-shaft permits of the independent vertical and lateral movements of the two without the operation and action of the one affecting that of the other and at the same time always insures the communication of the motion of the one to the other to secure their cooperative action.

It will be observed that by means of the universal joints between thehorizontal member m and the marker-shaft I-I and also with its companion member 7c the marker-shaft H is free to move laterally without affecting the operation of the devices connecting it to the hopper-frame or affecting the devices for imparting its movement to the actuating devices of the seed-feeding mechanism of the hoppers.

Secured to and arising from the side branches of frame A, near the rear ends of the same, are fulcrumal lugs r r, to which the rear ends of the horizontally-disposed levers Q Q are fulcrumed. These levers Q extend forward to and under the marker-shaft II, and the forward portions R thereof below said marker-shaft Hare hook-shaped. When the hopper-frame is lifted through the manipulation of lever E, as hereinbefore explained, these levers Q are moved upward and catch the marker-shaft in the dip or concavities of IOO I-IO

hoppers.

the hooks and lift the same, so as to raise the blades of the marker-wheels out of engagement with the soil, and thereby stop the Vrotation of the seed-dropping mechanism of the This I accomplish by means of two corresponding arms s s, that project forward and downward from the rock-shaft F,near the bearings thereof. The forward ends of these arms s have laterally-projectingstuds which 1o have friction-rollers S journaled thereon that come under and engage and support the forward portions of the levers Q just to the rear of their hook shaped portions. Therefore when the shaft F is rocked by pulling back upon the lever E the forward portions of the --aid levers Q will move upward and will engage and lift in the manner hereinbefore described.

What I claim as new is- 1. In a marker-actuated check-rower, the combination with the hopper-frame, of rotary spider-markers and draft-rigging therefor independent of said hopper-frame.

2. In a marker-actuated check-rower, the combination with the hopper-frame,and draftrigging therefor rigidly attached thereto, of rotary spider markers, and draftrigging therefor independent of said hopper-frame.

3. In a marker-actuated check-rower, the

3o combination with the hopperframe,and draftrigging therefor rigidly attached thereto, of rotary spider-markers and draft-rigging pivotally connected thereto which is independent of said hopper-frame.

4. A marker-actuated check-rower having the rotary spider-markers placed in a plane in front of the drivers seat and propelled by means independent of the remainder of the construction thereof.

5. In a marker-actuated checkrower, the combination with the hopper frame and means for supporting the drivers seat, of rotary spider-markers placed in front of said drivers seat, and draft-rigging therefor independent of said hopper-frame.

6. In a `marker-actuated oheck-rower, the combination with a hopper-frame, means for supporting the drivers seat, and draft-rigging therefor rigidly attached thereto, of ro- 5o tary spider-markers placed in front of said drivers seat, and draft-rigging therefor independent of said hopper-frame.

7. In a marker-actuated check-rower, the combination with a hopper-frame, means for supporting the drivers seat, and draft-rigging therefor rigidly attached thereto, of rotary spider-markers placed in front of said drivers seat, and draft-riggin g pivotal] y connected to the marker-carrying devices which 6o is independent of said hopper-frame.

8. In a marker-actuated check-rower, the combination with the hopper-frame,meansfor lifting said hopper-frame, and the supporting-vehicle therefor, of rotary spider-markers, and draft-rigging therefor independent of said hopper-frame.l

9. In a marker-actuated check-rower, the combination with a hopper-frame, draft-rigging for said hopper-frame rigidly attached thereto, means for lifting said hopper-frame, and supporting-vehicle for the same, of rotary spider-markers, and draft-rigging therefor independent of said hopper-frame.

10. In a marker-actuated check-rower, the combination with the hopper-frame, draft-rigging for said hopper-frame rigidly attached thereto, means for lifting said hopper-frame, and supporting-vehicle for said means, of rotary spider-markers, and draft-rigging pivotally connected to the same which is independent of said hopper-frame.

l1. In a marker-actuated check-rower, the combination with a hopper-frame, and vehicle connected thereto, of rotary spider-markers, draft-rigging for said markers independent of said hopper-frame, and means for lifting said markers carried by said vehicle.

12. In a marker-actuated check-rower, the combination with a hopper-frame, vehicle connected therewith draftrigging for the same rigidly attached to said hopper-frame, of rotary spider-markers, draft-rigging for said markers independent of said lhopperframe, and means for lifting said markers carried by said vehicle.

13. In a marker-actuated check-rower, the combination with a hopper-frame draft-rigging rigidly attached to said hopper-frame and vehicle connected thereto, of rotary spidermarkers, draft-rigging pivotally connected thereto which is independent of said hopper-frame, and means for lifting said markers which are carried by said Vehicle.

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14. In a marker-actuated check-rower, the v combination with the hopper-frame, means for lifting the same, and supporting-vehicle for said means, of rotary spider-markers draftrigging therefor independent of said hopperframe, and means for lifting said markers which are carried by said supporting-frame.

15. In a marker-actuated check-rower, the combination with a hopper-frame, means for lifting said hopper-frame, and a supportingvehicle for said means, of rotary spider-markers, draft-rigging therefor independent of said hopper-f rame and means for lifting said markers at the same time the hopper-frame is lifted which are carried by said supporting-vehicle.

16. In a marker-actuated check-rower, the combination with a hopper-frame, draft-rigging rigidly attached to said frame, means for lifting said hopper-frame, and supportingvehicle for said means, of rotary spider-markers,draftriggin g therefor independent of said hopper-frame, means for lifting said markers which are carried by said supporting-vehicle.

17. In a marker-actuated check-rower, the combination with a hopper-frame, draft-rigging rigidly attached to said frame, means for lifting said hopper-frame, and supportingvehicle for said means, of rotary spider-mark- IIO ers,draftrigging therefor independent of said hopper-frame, means for lifting said markers at the same time said hopper-frame is lifted.

1S. In a marker-actuated check-rower, the combination with a hopper-frame, draft-rigging attached to said frame, means for lifting the hopper-frame and su pporting-carriage for said means,of rotary spider-markers,draft rigging pivotally connected thereto independent of said hopper-frame, and means for lifting said markers which are carried by said supporting-vehicle.

19. In a marker-actuated check-rower, the combination with a hopper-frame, draft-rigging attached to said frame, means for lifting the hopper-frame and supporting-carriage for said means, of rotary spider-markers, draftrigging pivotally connected thereto independent of said hopper-frame, means for lifting said markers at the same time said hopperframe is elevated which are carried by said supporting-vehicle.

20. In a marker-actuated check-rower, the seed-feeding devices and vehicle therefor, of rotary spider-markers, draft-rigging therefor independent of the carriage of said seed-feeding devices and means for imparting the movement of said markers to said seed-feeding devices which will automatically adjust themselves to the differential movements of said markers and the carriage for said seed-feeding devices.

21. In a marker-actuated check-rower, the combination with the seed-feeding devices thereof of independently propelled rotary spider-markers placed in front of the drivers seat and automatically-adjustable uni` versally-jointed means for imparting the motion of said markers to said seed-feeding devices.

. 22. In a marker-actuated check-rower, the combination with the seed-feeding devices, of independently-propelled rotary spider-markers located in front of the drivers seat and automatically adjustable universal -jointed means for imparting the motion of said markers to said seed-feeding devices.

23. In a marker-actuated check-rower, the combination with the seed-feeding devices, draft-rigging for said devices rigidly attached to the support of the same of independent rotary spider-markers placed in front of the drivers seat, separate draft-rigging pivotally connected thereto and automatically-adj ustable universal-jointed means for imparting the motion of said markers to said seed-feeding devices.

24. In a marker-actuated check-rower, the combination with the hopper-frame, seedfeeding mechanism carried therebyand draftrigging rigidly secured to said hopper-frame, of independent rotary spider-markers placed in front of the drivers seat, separate draftrigging therefor, automatically -adjustable universally-jointed means for imparting the motion of said markers to said seed-feeding devices, and means for simultaneously lifting said hopper-frame and markers.

25. In a marker-actuated check-rower, the combination with the hopper-frame, hoppers, seed-feeding devices and rock-shaft used in conjunction therewith, of the rotary spidermarkers placed in front of the drivers seat, independently-propelled marker-shaft therefor, toggle frame connecting said marker'- shaft to the rock-shaft of the said feeding devices, and universal-jointed means carried by said toggle-frame for imparting the motion of said marker-shaft to said rock-shaft.

26. In a marker-actuated check-rower,the combination with the hopper-frame, hoppers supported thereby, seed-feeding devices in the bottom of said hoppers and rock-shaft for actuating the same, of independent rotary spider-markers separately-propelled markershaft placed in front of the drivers seat, toggle-frame connecting said marker-shaft and rock-shaft means for imparting the motion of said marker-shaft to said rock-shaft and means for lifting said marker-shaft and hopper-frame, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

27. The combination in a marker-actuated check-rower of rotary spidermarkers, and hopper-frame, each propelled independently of the other.

28. The combination in a marker-actuated check-rower of rotary spider-markers, and seed-feeding mechanism operatively connected, but each propelled independently of the other.

29. In a marker-actuated check-rower, the combination with the hopper-frame, hoppers, seed-feeding devices and rock-shaft used in conjunction therewith, of the rotary spidermarkers placed in front of the drivers seat, independently-propelled marker-shaft therefor, universal-jointed toggle-frame connecting said marker-shaft to the rock-shaft of the said feeding devices, and means carried by said toggle-frame for imparting the motion of said marker-shaft to said rock-shaft.

30. In a marker-actuated check-rower, the combination with the hopper-frame, hoppers, seed-feeding devices and rock-shaft used in conjunction therewith, of the rotary spidermarkers, independentlypropelled markershaft therefor, a toggle-frame, consisting of a vertical member loosely connected to said rock-shaft and a companion horizontal member with which it articulates, that is loosely connected to said marker-shaft, a cam secured to said marker-shaft, and means carried by said toggle-frame and actuated by said cam for imparting the motion of said marker-shaft to said rock-shaft.

3l. In a marker-actuated check-rower, the combination with the hopper-fra me, hoppers, seed-feeding devices and rock-shaft used in conjunction therewith, of the rotary spider- IOO IIO

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markers, independently-propelled markershaft therefor, a toggle-frame consisting of a Vertical member loosely connected to said rock-shaft, and a companion horizontal member which is articulated to it, and loosely connected t-o the 1narker-shaft by universal joints, a cam secured to said 1narker-shaft,and means carried by said toggle-frame and actuated by said cam for imparting the motion of said marker-shaft to said rock-shaft.

32. In a marker-actuated check-rower, the combination with the hopper-frame, hoppers, seed-feeding devices and rock-shaft used in conjunction therewith, of the rotary spidermarkers, independently-propelled markershaft therefor, toggle-frame connecting said marker-shaft to the rock-shaft of the said feeding devices, a cam on said marker-shaft, an L-shaped lever engaged by said cam, a bell-crank a rod connecting the same and an arm on said rock-shaft, and rod connecting the same to said bell-crank; said lever, and bell-crank bein g carried by said toggle-frame.

33. In a marker-actuated check-rower, the combination with the hopper-frame, hoppers, seed-feeding devices and rock-shaft used in conjunction therewith, of the rotary spidermarkers, independently-propelled markershaft therefor, universal-jointed toggle-frame connecting said marker shaft to the rockshaft of the said feeding devices, a cam on said marker-shaft, an L-shaped lever engaged by said cam, a bell-crank a rod connecting the same and an arm on said rock-shaft, and rod connecting the same to said bell-crank; said lever, and bell-crank being carried by said toggle-frame.

JOSEPH W. BETTENDORF.

Witnesses:

HENRY BELLINGHAUSEN, FRANK M. GODDARD. 

